Episode 5: “Family First”

Nowadays spending quality time with family is becoming more rare than ever do to a more hectic work life for both parents.  Research has shown that over the past three decades, family time at the dinner table and family conversation in general has declined by more than 30%. Families with children under the age of 18 report having family dinners three to four times per week. One third of families with 11- to 18-year-olds eat one or two meals a week together and only one fourth eat seven or more family meals per week.    In addition to this, the experience at the table has also declined in quality with the increase in distractions such as television watching, Smartphone apps, text messaging, and telephone conversations.  There has been plenty of research that suggests a positive affect on children's mental health when greater time is spent with family and on today's episode I talk about what those benefits are, and tell examples from my life on how family time has helped me. Enjoy!